With that said, the company has made quite a name for itself in the premium hardware market. The Surface Pro, Surface Book, and Surface Laptop have become defining products in their respective categories. But to many, a mobile offering - by way of a Surface Phone - was glaringly missing. However, through several leaks, the idea of a phone might not be too far-fetched. Its Chinese operations seemingly confirmed the existence of such a device, with Microsoft filing several patents for a foldable mobile device the last couple of years, the latest of which targets a 'magnetic locking mechanism'.

Filed by the company back in 2016 but published yesterday, it describes a mechanism that locks the device in a way to prevent it from flinging open at times that are undesirable; much like how the Surface keyboard 'clicks' to the bottom of the display creating a comfortable typing surface. Beyond that, it also allows the magnets to 'rotate', allowing the device to be flipped around - and then secured. The patent may also point to a new design for the Surface Book, which currently sports a fulcrum hinge.

Microsoft's Surface team has always been known for its secrecy surrounding new product categories, so until the company officially announce a new hardware event, these will remain rumors for now. However, the idea inspires great excitement for a possible return to the mobile market for the company - the third attempt to date after abandoning the original Windows Mobile.